Power-lock for automobiles.



J, C. KURTZ.

POWER LOOK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20: 1917- Patented July 16, 1918 JOHN C. KURTZ, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

POWER-LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed March 20, 1917. Serial No. 156,219.

To all whom it may] concern Be it known that I, JOHN C. KUR'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Power-Lock for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a locking device applied to an automobile, whereby the owner of the automobile may prevent unauthorized persons from taking the same.

My invention is more particularly a looking device by means of which the throttle lever and spark lever are locked in inoperative position, and the main objects of my invention are to produce an efficient locking device of the character described of simple form and construction.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following description.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Figure 1 is a perspective View, partly in section, of the steering post of an automobile with a device embodying a form of my invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional .plan view on line Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional View on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

11 designates a steering wheel, 12 the steering rod, and 18 the steering post, of an automobile. 14 designates the spark control lever, 15 the spark control rod connected thereto, 16 the throttle lever, and 17 the throttie rod connected thereto, all of which parts are of common form and construction and well known to those skilled in the art. The present invention consists of a locking device to hold such spark levers and throttle levers in inoperative position and consists of the following parts. 18 and 19 designate U-members brazed or otherwise secured to the re spective rods 15 and 17, and 20 designates a locking plate terminating in, inwardly extending arms or extensions 21 and 22 which project between the free ends of the U-mem bers 18 and 19 respectively. The plate 20 is secured. by means of suitable screws 23 to a bar 24, which bar 24 is provided with lugs 25 secured in any suitable manner to the tumblers 26 of a lock 27 and movable therewith through slots 28 in the barrel 29 of the lock. The barrel 29 of the lock is cylindrical in form and extends through the post 13, being brazed therein. The lock 27 is controlled in the usual manner by a suitable key 30 by means of which the tumblers 26 are operated and the locking plate moved into or out of engagementwith the U-members on the rods 15 and 17.

The device is used in the following manner:

The levers 14 and 16 are placed in inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the lock 27 operated by the key 80 to bring the arms 21 and 22 between the free ends of the U-members 18 and 19 respectively. When in this position, the levers 14 and 16 cannot be operated, as the U-members and rods upon which the same are secured are prevented from turning by the locking plate. Therefore the operator is unable to deliver a charge of fuel to the engine and is unable to make aspark adjustment, and under such conditions the automobile cannot be started until the lock is operated to free the U-members from the locking bar.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. In combination, a steering post, spark and throttle rods extending through said post, a projection on each of said rods within the post, a lock secured in said post, and a locking plate secured to the lock adapted to swing into the path of said projections whereby said rods are prevented from turning.

2. In combination, a steering post, spark and throttle rods extending therethrough, a lock secured to said post, a locking plate operated by said lock, a U-member secured to each rod, and arms on said plate adapted to extend into the free ends of said U-members to prevent said rods from turning.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 12th day of March, 1917.

JOHN C. KURTZ.

Sopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lasents, Washington, 1). Ga 

